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Fact check: Viral video showing man rescued from flood waters isn't from Kenya

A screengrab showing the viral video of the man being rescued from raging floodwaters.

By Manny Anyango | Wednesday, May 1, 2024

In the video, shared by Kenyans on X including a former governor, a young man is seen to be drowning while asking for help from the crowd.

A video has gone viral across social media indicating that a Kenyan was saved from raging flood waters by another man.

In the video, shared by Kenyans on X including a former governor, a young man is seen to be drowning while asking for help from the crowd. A courageous man quickly ran to the waters and dragged him out and is later seen slapping him in a fit of rage.

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“Seems like Kenyans are Tired of people who are joking with Floods,” an X user @Omwamba captioned the video.

The Eastleigh Voice has conducted a reverse image search on the video and which indicated that the clip was first shared on February 28, 2023, by an X user by the name ‘Twinsisters’.

Twinsisters captioned the video: “A good Samaritan turned abuser. Is this good? Please don't cross flooded rivers!!”

A good Samaritan turned abuser. Is this good? Please don't cross flooded rivers!! @PoliceZimbabwe @gundwenation @BarakaZaire @gundwenation @NESYBEE42 @MarthaChikata @kenyansista @Varakashi4ED @noku_carol @ngonidzashemeki @NgarivhumeJacob pic.twitter.com/oe1q1RGPFR
— Twinsisters (@Twinsis50497431) February 28, 2023

The user went ahead to tag Zimbabwean police among other authorities.

The video has since gone viral on social media platforms, with some bloggers publishing articles surrounding it.

Seems like Kenyans are Tired with people who are joking with Floods pic.twitter.com/GX2GBGxKVg
— Omwamba 🇰🇪 (@omwambaKE) April 30, 2024

huku tukikuokoa tunakuzibuuua @Yuppy_tz 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/YCYVeac5Ji
— mwaisa_mtumbad (@Nyonyoma1) March 19, 2023

Kenya is currently experiencing one of the worst flood crises leaving 169 dead and hundreds of thousands more displaced.

The heavy rains have also led to massive destruction of property and damaged major roads across the country.

President William Ruto has since deployed the Kenya Defence Forces Tuesday to help in the evacuation exercise for those living in flood-prone areas.

Ruto, who visited the victims of the Mai Mahiu tragedy in Naivasha on Tuesday after chairing a Cabinet meeting in Nairobi, said also gave a 48-hour deadline for those living in flood-risk areas to evacuate.

"The military has been mobilised, the National Youth Service has been mobilised, all security agencies have been mobilised to assist citizens in such areas to evacuate to avoid any dangers of loss of lives," he said.

"The forecast is that rain is going to continue, and the likelihood of flooding and people losing lives is real. Therefore, we must take preemptive action. It is not a time for guesswork, we are better off safe than sorry."